SITE REPORT

NASHVILLE:
MUCH MORE THAN CAPITOL OF COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC
BY CHRIS J. WALKER

Although Nashville is renowned for being the capitol of country music and calls itself, “Music City,” it has recently developed into an excellent region for conducting business and living. Black Enterprise cited it as third best city for “low cost of living” and fourth best for “African-American families.” While Entrepreneurial magazine named it one of the top 10 “Entrepreneurial Hot Cities” and Expansion Management said it was “one of the hottest cities to relocate or expand your business.” Essentially, that all translates to growth along the lines of airport expansion and new hotels, such as Hampton Inn & Suites, Hotel Indigo, Hotel Palomar, and InterContinental Hotel & Resorts. Established properties such as Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville Airport Marriott, and the historic Union Station Hotel, showcasing an incredible grand lobby, have all undergone multi-million dollar renovations. Needless to say, they are much better equipped to facilitate business travelers.

Meeting and event planners will also find the city has many dimensions, musically and in general. Nashville has a busy schedule, featuring an extensive array of events throughout the year. Some of the more notable ones are Sprint Sound & Speed-A Celebration of Music and Motorsports (NASCAR-January), Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival (March), GMA Gospel Week & Music Awards (April), Tennessee Jazz & Blues Societies Concerts on the Lawn (May), Annual Fiddlin’ Brewin’ Bar-B-Q’n Cook-Off (August) and the NAIA (Native Americans International Association) Pow Wow (October).

The newly constructed Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a world-class concert hall, producing a dynamic cultural season and is also available for private events (www.schermerhornsymphonycenter.org/615 687-6500). Additionally, in terms of high art and architecture, The Parthenon, the only full-sized reproduction of Athens, Greece’s incredible marvel is a highly rated Nashville attraction, available for meetings and events (www.partheon.org/615-862-8431). The Tennessee State Capitol resembles a Greek Ionic temple and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, formerly a U.S. Post Office building, is a 24,000-sq. ft. art-deco art exhibition center and well-suited for meetings and functions (www.fristcenter.org/615-244-3340).

As a reflection of its antebellum past, Nashville is adorned with many grand private estates, and historian, Tommie Morton-Young, highlights the African-American perspective. The enlightening tour lasts three and a half-hours, encompassing the history, culture and wealth of people of color, with lunch included (615-299-5626). Additionally, historian Bill Daniels conducts customized Nashville Black Heritage Tours (615-890-8173). Furthermore, there is The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, Belle Meade Plantation, considered the “Queen of Tennessee Plantations “and the Belmont Mansion, built by Adelicia Acklen, one of America’s wealthiest women in the 19th century. Not to be overlooked is the Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum, a 55-acre property primed for events (www.cheekwood.org/615-356-8000). It features significant European art and furniture, along with 10 magnificent gardens and an exceptional Sculpture Trail of artwork.

Another aspect of the city is its overabundance of education and art institutions, living up to its moniker, “Athens of the South.” Notable Nashville historically African-American colleges are Fisk, with the Van Vechten Gallery of Fine Arts, Tennessee State University, Meharry and the American Baptist College. Formal tours are available through the campuses individually. Vanderbilt University on 330 acres is the city’s largest mainstream academic center, including a national arboretum and several fine arts galleries.  Highly recommended is a visit to the Nashville Public Library’s Civil Rights Room, a virtual treasure chest of multi-media exhibits, literature and historic photographs (615-862-5782). The Tennessee State Museum also offers special tours thoroughly chronicling the region’s turbulent past, with displays of historic arts, clothing, machinery, weapons and habitats.  For more information contact: Nashville CVB (800) 657-6910/www.visitmusiccity.com.